THERE was a good attendance at the December meeting of Saltash Floral Art Club when national demonstrator Mrs Elizabeth Graham visited the club on Tuesday, December 7 at Saltash Community School hall. She had travelled from Newport, Wales and the theme of the evening's demonstration was 'Christmas Crackers'. Mrs Rosalie Smith, Chairman of the Floral Art Club, welcomed the Mayor of Saltash, Mrs Sue Hooper and also Mrs Cynthia Willcocks, Vice President. For her first arrangement, Mrs Graham used fatsia leaves, various types of holly, some with red berries and the other yellow, also juniper, arranged in a terra cotta flower bowl. She incorporated oranges on sticks, placed into oasis, plus salmon pink carnations, lilies and fir cones in the arrangement and sprayed hair spray over it, and copper wire and baubles completed the arrangement. Using a dark green bottle from Portugal the second arrangement included deciduous holly, myrtle, and deep red anthurians from South Africa, grand prix red roses and called it 'Crown of Christmas'. A holly wreath included red roses and red ribbon and Mrs Graham demonstrated the quickest way to make a bow. The next arrangement included willow twigs, Christmas roses, in a tall vase and with crackers placed around the base. She added ivy, white moth orchids, in a cascade arrangement, blue pine sprays. An usual arrangement using scrap metal heavy base, crackers on sticks, dark crimson orchids, aspidistra leaves folded over and also crimson carnations completed the next arrangement. For her final arrangement, Mrs Graham used three white candles, two types of leaves, juniper, a sleigh-like arrangement of pale green orchids with red centres, mistletoe pale green chrysanthemums and green carnations. Mrs Willcocks giving the vote of thanks said that the demonstration had given some wonderful ideas and Mrs Graham had shown a natural love of plant materials and the demonstration had also been given with a sense of humour. Flower Clubs from various parts of Devon and Cornwall attended the event and supper was served in the canteen at the conclusion of the evening.
